Integrated circuit chip

ABSTRACT

An integrated circuit chip is provided. The chip includes a silicon substrate, a circuit, a seal ring, a ground ring and a guard ring. The circuit is formed on the silicon substrate and has an input/output (I/O) pad. The seal ring is formed on the silicon substrate and surrounds the circuit and the I/O pad. The ground ring is formed between the silicon substrate and the I/O pad, and the ground ring is electrically connected with the seal ring. The guard ring is formed above the silicon substrate and surrounds the I/O pad, and the guard ring is electrically connected with the seal ring.

This application claims the benefit of Taiwan application Serial No. 92133104, filed Nov. 25, 2003, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention is related to an integrated circuit (IC) chip, and more particularly to an integrated circuit chip having a seal ring, a ground ring and a guard ring.

2. Description of the Related Art

A semiconductor wafer comprises a number of integrated circuit chips formed through integrated circuit manufacturing process with each integrated circuit chip comprises a number of circuits, such as digital circuits, analog circuits and radio frequency (RF) circuits. A scribing line is formed between any two adjacent integrated circuit chips to facilitate the scribing of integrated circuit chips. When scribing the integrated circuit chip, the generated stress will cause damage to the circuits of the integrated circuit chip. Therefore, a seal ring is normally formed between the integrated circuit chip and the scribing line to prevent the integrated circuit chip from being damaged during the scribing process.

Refer to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B. FIG. 1A is a top view of a conventional integrated circuit chip. FIG. 1B is a partial enlargement of a cross-sectional view of the integrated circuit chip along the cross-sectional line 1B-1B′ in FIG. 1A. In FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, an integrated circuit chip 10 includes a silicon substrate 14, a digital circuit 12, an RF circuit 13, a seal ring 11, two input/output (I/O) pads 12 a and 13 a. The digital circuit 12, the RF circuit 13, the seal ring 11, the I/O pads 12 a and 13 a are formed on the silicon substrate 14. Of which, the I/O pads 12 a and 13 a are respectively electrically connected with the digital circuit 12 and the RF circuit 13. The seal ring 11 surrounds the integrated circuit chip 10 and encloses the digital circuit 12, the RF circuit 13, the I/O pads 12 a and 13 a. As shown in FIG. 1B, the seal ring 11 includes a P well 15, a P+ doping layer 16, three metal layers 17 a˜17 c, three dielectric layers 18 a˜18 c, three vias 19 a˜19 c, a passivation layer 18 d, and a nitride layer 18 e. The P well 15 is formed on the silicon substrate 14. The P+ doping layer 16 is formed in the P well 15 and the surface of the P+ doping layer 16 is co-planar with the surface of the P well 15. The dielectric layers 18 a˜18 c, the passivation layer 18 d, and the nitride layer 18 e are formed on the surface of the P well 15 and the surface of the P+ doping layer according to a bottom-up sequence. The metal layers 17 a˜17 c are respectively formed on the dielectric layers 18 a˜18 c and are respectively covered by the dielectric layers 18 b, 18 c and the passivation layer 18 d. The vias 19 a˜19 c are respectively formed in the dielectric layers 18 a˜18 c. The via 19 a is electrically connected with the P+ doping layer 16 and metal layer 17 a. The via 19 b is electrically connected with the metal layers 17 a and 17 b. The via 19 c is electrically connected with the metal layer 17 b and 17 c.

Since the seal ring 11 is a continuous ring structure, the digital circuit 12 is a circuit, which easily generates noises. Moreover, the RF circuit 13 is a circuit which is easily interrupted by the noise, so that the noise generated by the digital circuit 12 or the I/O pad 12 a will be easily transmitted to the RF circuit 13 or the I/O pad 13 a through the seal ring 11, resulting in noise coupling and further affecting the normal operation of the RF circuit 13.

Several conventional methods have been provided to resolve the noise-coupling problem disclosed above. Refer to FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B. FIG. 2A is a partial top view of an integrated circuit chip disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No. U.S. 2003/0122235 A1. FIG. 2B is a partial enlargement of a cross-sectional view of the integrated circuit chip along the cross-sectional line 2B-2B′ in FIG. 2A. In FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, an integrated circuit chip 20 includes a silicon substrate 25, an I/O pad 22 of a digital circuit, a ground pad 24, an RF circuit 23, two seal rings 21 a and 21 b. The I/O pad 22 of the digital circuit, the ground pad 24, the RF circuit 23, the seal rings 21 a and 21 b are formed on the silicon substrate 25. The seal rings 21 a and 21 b surround the integrated circuit chip 20 and enclose the I/O pad 22 of the digital circuit, the ground pad 24 and the RF circuit 23. The seal ring 21 a and 21 b are two discontinuous rings. The seal ring 21 b is formed closer to the I/O pad 22 of the digital circuit, the ground pad 24 and the RF circuit 23 than the seal ring 21 a is. To prevent the noise generated by the I/O pad 22 of the digital circuit from being transmitted to the RF circuit 23 through the seal rings 21 a and 21 b, the gaps of the seal rings 21 a and 21 b are alternately arranged. The I/O pad 22 of the digital circuit and the RF circuit 23 are formed corresponding to the seal ring 21 a through the two gaps of the seal ring 21 a. The ground pad 24 is formed near the seal ring 21 b.

The seal ring 21 a and 21 b have the same sectional structure, and the sectional structure of the seal ring 21 b is exemplified herein. As shown in FIG. 2B, the seal ring 21 b includes a N well 26, a P+ doping layer 27, a salicide layer 28, a shallow trench isolation (STI) layer 29, six dielectric layers 30 a˜30 f, six metal layers 34 a˜34 f, six contact layer 35 a˜35 f, a passivation layer 31, a nitride layer 32 and a polyimide (PI) layer 33. The N well 26 is formed on the silicon substrate 25. The P+ doping layer 27 and the STI layer 29 are formed in the N well 26. The surface of the P+ doping layer 27 and that of the STI layer 29 are co-planar with the surface of the N well 26. The STI layer 29 respectively enables the seal ring 21 b and the I/O pad 22 of the digital circuit, the ground pad 24 and the RF circuit 23 to be electrically isolated from each other. The salicide layer 28 is formed in the P+ doping layer 27. The surface of the salicide layer 28 is co-planar with the surface of the P+ doping layer 27. The dielectric layers 30 a˜30 f, the passivation layer 31, the nitride layer 32 and the PI layer 33 are respectively formed on the surfaces of the N well 26, the salicide layer 28 and the STI layer 29 according to a bottom-up sequence. The metal layers 34 a˜34 f are respectively formed on the surfaces of the dielectric layers 30 a˜30 f and are respectively covered by the dielectric layers 30 b˜30 f and the passivation layer 31. The contact layers 35 a˜35 f are respectively formed in the dielectric layers 30 a-30 f. The contact layer 35 a is electrically connected the metal layer 34 a and the salicide layer 28. The contact layers 35 b˜35 f are respectively electrically connected any two adjacent metal layers of the metal layers 34 b˜34 f according to a bottom-up sequence.

It is noteworthy that a PN junction is formed between the N well 26 and the silicon substrate 25, so the electric charges, which are generated during the process of manufacturing the seal rings 21 a and 21 b according to a plasma etching method, cannot be discharged through the silicon substrate 25 and will build up on the seal rings 21 a and 21 b, severely affecting the electrical characteristics of the integrated circuit chip 20. Moreover, the N well 26 formed underneath the gaps of the seal rings 21 a and 21 b is not cut off, so the noise generated by the I/O pad 22 of the digital circuit still can be transmitted to the RF circuit 23 through the N well 26, causing noise coupling to occur. Besides, the double ring design of the seal rings 21 a and 21 b will increase the size of the integrated circuit chip 20.

Refer to FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B. FIG. 3A is a partial top view of an integrated circuit chip disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,492,716. FIG. 3B is a partial enlargement of a cross-sectional view of the integrated circuit chip along the cross-sectional line 3B-3B′ in FIG. 3A. In FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, an integrated circuit chip 40 includes a P type silicon substrate 44, a digital circuit 42, an RF circuit 43 and a seal ring 41. The digital circuit 42, the RF circuit 43 and the seal ring 41 are formed on the P type silicon substrate 44. The seal ring 41 surrounds the integrated circuit chip 40 and encloses the digital circuit 42 and the RF circuit 43. The seal ring 41 is a discontinuous ring structure and has a number of gaps, two gaps for instance, such that part of the seal ring 41 is adjacent to the digital circuit 42 and another part of the seal ring 41 is adjacent to the RF circuit 43.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the seal ring 41 includes an N well 45, a salicide layer 46, a gate oxide 47, an STI layer 48, a polysilicon layer 49, six dielectric layers 50 a˜50 f, six metal layer 53 a˜53 f, six vias 54 a˜54 f, an oxide layer 51 and a nitride layer 52. The N well 45 and the STI layer 48 are formed on the P type silicon substrate 44. The salicide layer 46 is formed in the N well 45. The gate oxide 47 is formed in the salicide layer 46. The surface of the gate oxide 47 is co-planar with the surface of the STI layer 48. The dielectric layers 50 a˜50 f, the oxide layer 51 and the nitride layer 52 are respectively formed on the surfaces of the gate oxide 47 and the STI layer 48 according to a bottom-up sequence. The polysilicon layer 49 and the metal layers 53 a˜53 f are respectively formed on the dielectric layers 50 a˜50 f and are respectively covered by the dielectric layers 50 b˜50 f and the oxide layer 51. The contact layers 54 a˜54 f are respectively formed in the dielectric layers 50 a˜50 f. The contact layer 54 a is electrically connected the metal layer 53 a and the polysilicon layer 49. The contact layers 54 b˜54 f are respectively electrically connected any two adjacent metal layers of the metal layers 53 b˜53 f according to a bottom-up sequence.

Despite that the polysilicon layer 49 and the gate oxide 47 can reduce the noise coupling of the integrated circuit chip 40, the electric charges, which are generated during the process of manufacturing the seal ring 41 according to a plasma etching method, cannot be discharged through the P type silicon substrate 44 and will build up on the seal ring 41, severely affecting the electrical characteristics of the integrated circuit chip 40.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an integrated circuit chip. The design of mutual electrical connection between the seal ring, the ground ring and the guard ring not only reduces the noise coupling between the circuits and the I/O pad and the external thereof, but also prevents the build-up of electric charges generated during the plasma etching manufacturing process, hence improving the electrical characteristics of the integrated circuit chip.

According to the object of the invention, an integrated circuit chip, which includes a silicon substrate, at least a circuit, a seal ring, a ground ring and at least a guard ring, is provided. The circuit is formed on silicon substrate and has at least an input/output (I/O) pad. The seal ring is formed on the silicon substrate and surrounds the circuit and the I/O pad. The ground ring is formed between the silicon substrate and the I/O pad. The ground ring is electrically connected with the seal ring. The guard ring is formed on the silicon substrate and surrounds the I/O pad. The guard ring is electrically connected with the seal ring.

According the object of the invention, a seal ring is provided, wherein the seal ring surrounds an integrated circuit chip, which has a silicon substrate. The seal ring includes a P well, a N type doping layer, a P+ doping layer, an isolation layer, a number of dielectric layers and a number of metal layers. The P well is formed on the silicon substrate and has a first aperture. The N type doping layer is formed on the first aperture and is formed on the silicon substrate. The P+ doping layer is formed on the P well and has a second aperture. The second aperture corresponds to the N type doping layer. The isolation layer is formed in the second aperture and is formed on the N type doping layer. The dielectric layers are formed on the P+ doping layer. Each of the metal layers is formed on the corresponding dielectric layer and is electrically connected with the P+ doping layer. The metal layer has a gap, which exposes part of the surface of the isolation layer.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred but non-limiting embodiments. The following description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A (Prior Art) is a top view of a conventional integrated circuit chip;

FIG. 1B (Prior Art) is a partial enlargement of a cross-sectional view of the integrated circuit chip along the cross-sectional line 1B-1B′ in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2A (Prior Art) is a partial top view of an integrated circuit chip disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No. U.S. 2003/0122235 A1;

FIG. 2B (Prior Art) is a partial enlargement of a cross-sectional view of the integrated circuit chip along the cross-sectional line 2B-2B′ in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3A (Prior Art) is a partial top view of an integrated circuit chip disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,492,716;

FIG. 3B (Prior Art) is a partial enlargement of a cross-sectional view of the integrated circuit chip along the cross-sectional line 3B-3B′ in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4 is a top view of an integrated circuit chip according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5A is a partial enlargement of a cross-sectional view of the integrated circuit chip along the cross-sectional line 5A-5A′ in FIG. 4;

FIG. 5B is a partial enlargement of a cross-sectional view of the integrated circuit chip along the cross-sectional line 5B-5B′ in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a partial enlargement of a cross-sectional view of the integrated circuit chip along the cross-sectional line 6-6′ in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a partial enlargement of a top view of the integrated circuit chip along the gap in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8A is a partial enlargement of a cross-sectional view of the integrated circuit chip along the cross-sectional line 8A-8A′ in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8B is a partial enlargement of a cross-sectional view of the integrated circuit chip along the cross-sectional line 8B-8B′ in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 9 is a partial enlargement of a top view of the integrated circuit chip in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Refer to FIGS. 4˜6 at the same time. FIG. 4 is a top view of an integrated circuit chip according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. FIG. 5 is a partial enlargement of a cross-sectional view of the integrated circuit chip along the cross-sectional line 5-5′ in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a partial enlargement of a cross-sectional view of the integrated circuit chip along the cross-sectional line 6-6′ in FIG. 4. In FIGS. 4˜6, an integrated circuit chip 70 includes a silicon substrate 57, a seal ring 71, a ground ring 72, at least a circuit, an input/output (I/O) pad of the circuit, and at least a guard ring, such as a digital circuit 73, a radio frequency (RF) circuit 74 and two guard rings 55 and 56 for instance. The digital circuit 73 and the RF circuit 74 respectively has an I/O pad 73 a and 74 a. The seal ring 71, the ground ring 72, the digital circuit 73, the RF circuit 74, the I/O pads 73 a˜74 a and the guard rings 55˜56 are all formed on the silicon substrate 57. The seal ring 71 surrounds the integrated circuit chip 70 and encloses the digital circuit 73, the RF circuit 74, the I/O pads 73 a and 74 a. The ground ring 72 is enclosed by the seal ring 71 and is electrically connected with the seal ring 71. Both the seal ring 71 and the ground ring 72 are two discontinuous ring structure and have at least a gap, gaps 71 a and 71 b for instance, so that the seal ring 71 is divided into a first seal ring 71 c and a second seal ring 71 d. The ground ring 72 is also divided into a first ground ring 72 a and a second ground ring 72 b. The second seal ring 71 d and the second ground ring 72 b are like two U-shaped structures. The first seal ring 71 c and the first ground ring 72 a are like two inverted U-shaped structures. Besides, the digital circuit 73 and the I/O pad 73 a are adjacent to the first seal ring 71 c and the first ground ring 72 a. The RF circuit 74 and the I/O pad 74 a are adjacent to the second seal ring 71 d and the second ground ring 72 b.

The guard ring 55 is formed near the first seal ring 71 c and is electrically connected with the first seal ring 71 c. The guard ring 55 is substantially a U-shaped structure. A first enclosed region 55 a is enclosed by the guard ring 55 and part of the first seal ring 71 c. Similarly, the guard ring 56 is formed near the second seal ring 71 d and is electrically connected with the second seal ring 71 d. The guard ring 56 is substantially a U-shaped structure. A second enclosed region 56 a is enclosed by the second seal ring 71 d and part of the second seal ring 71 d. The I/O pad 73 a is formed inside the first enclosed region 55 a and the I/O pad 74 a is formed inside the second enclosed region 56 a.

Referring to FIG. 5A, a partial enlargement of a cross-sectional view of the integrated circuit chip along the cross-sectional line 5A-5A′ in FIG. 4 is shown. In FIG. 5A, the first seal ring 71 c surrounds partial peripheral of the integrated circuit chip 70 shown in FIG. 4 by extending along partial peripheral of the silicon substrate 57. The first seal ring 71 c includes a first P well 58 a, a first P+ doping layer 59 a, a number of dielectric layers, a number of metal layers and a number of contact layers, such as the dielectric layers 60 a˜60 c, the metal layers 61 a˜61 c and the contact layers 62 a˜62 c. The first P well 58 a is formed on the silicon substrate 57. The first P+ doping layer 59 a is formed in the first P well 58 a. The surface of the first P+ doping layer 59 a is co-planar with the surface of the first P well 58 a. The dielectric layers 60 a˜60 c are respectively formed on the surface of the first P well 58 a and the surface of the first P+ doping layer 59 a according to a bottom-up sequence. The metal layers 61 a˜61 c are respectively formed on the dielectric layers 60 a˜60 c. The metal layers 61 a and 61 b are respectively covered up by the dielectric layers 60 b and 60 c. Of which, the first ground ring 72 a can be electrically connected with the metal layer 61 b of the first seal ring 71 a. The contact layers 62 a is electrically connected with the first P+ doping layer 59 a and the metal layer 61 a. The contact layers 62 b is electrically connected with the metal layer 61 a and the metal layer 61 b. The contact layers 62 c is electrically connected with the metal layer 61 b and the metal layer 61 c. The contact layers 62 a˜62 c can be vias or plugs. It is noteworthy that the integrated circuit chip 70 further includes an oxide layer 60 d and a nitride layer 60 e. The oxide layer 60 d is formed on the dielectric layer 60 c and covers the metal layer 61 c. The nitride layer 60 e is formed on the oxide layer 60 d. The oxide layer 60 d and the nitride layer 60 e are the so-called passivation layer. Besides, the metal layer 61 a and the first P+ doping layer 59 a extend along the two sides of the I/O pad 73 a in FIG. 4 from the first seal ring 71 c and form the guard ring 55 shown in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 5B, a partial enlargement of a cross-sectional view of the integrated circuit chip along the cross-sectional line 5B-5B′ in FIG. 4 is shown. In FIG. 5B, the second seal ring 71 d surrounds partial peripheral of the integrated circuit chip 70 shown in FIG. 4 by extending along partial peripheral of the silicon substrate 57. The second seal ring 71 d includes a second P well 58 b, a second P+ doping layer 59 b, the dielectric layers 60 a˜60 c, three metal layers 61 d˜61 f and three contact layers 62 d˜62 f. The second P well 58 b is formed on the silicon substrate 57. The second P+ doping layer 59 b is formed in the second P well 58 b. The surface of the second P+ doping layer 59 b is co-planar with the surface of the second P well 58 b. The dielectric layers 60 a˜60 c, the oxide layer 60 d and the nitride layer 60 e are respectively formed on the surface of the second P well 58 b and the surface of the second P+ doping layer 59 b according to a bottom-up sequence. The metal layers 61 d˜61 f are respectively formed on the dielectric layers 60 a˜60 c and are respectively covered by the dielectric layers 60 b˜60 c and the oxide layer 60 d. Of which, the second ground ring 72 b can be electrically connected with the metal layer 61 e of the second seal ring 71 d. The contact layers 62 d is electrically connected with the second P+ doping layer 59 b and the metal layer 61 d. The contact layers 62 e is electrically connected with the metal layers 61 d and 61 e. The contact layers 62 f is electrically connected with the metal layers 61 e and 61 f. The contact layers 62 d˜62 f can be vias or plugs. It is noteworthy that the metal layer 61 d and the second P+ doping layer 59 b extend along the two sides of the I/O pad 74 a in FIG. 4 from the second seal ring 71 d and form a guard ring 56 shown in FIG. 4.

Refer to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 at the same time. FIG. 6 is a partial enlargement of a cross-sectional view of the integrated circuit chip along the cross-sectional line 6-6′ in FIG. 4. FIG. 7 is a partial enlargement of a top view of the integrated circuit chip along the gap in FIG. 4. In FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the seal ring 71 further includes an N type doping layer 63 and an isolation layer 64. An aperture 58 c is formed between the first P well 58 a and the second P well 58 b. The N type doping layer 63 is formed in the aperture 58 c and is formed on the silicon substrate 57. The N type doping layer 63 is used for electrically isolating the first P well 58 a and the second P well 58 b. An aperture 59 c is formed between the first P+ doping layer 59 a and the second P+ doping layer 59 b. The aperture 59 c corresponds to the N type doping layer 63. The isolation layer 64 is formed in the aperture 59 c and is formed on the N type doping layer 63. The isolation layer 64 is used for electrically isolating the first P+ doping layer 59 a and the second P+ doping layer 59 b. A gap 71 a is formed between the metal layers 61 a˜61 c, the contact layer 62 a˜62 c and the metal layers 61 d˜61 f, the contact layers 62 d˜62 f. The gap 71 a exposes partial surface of the isolation layer 64. The dielectric layer 60 a˜60 c are formed on the isolation layer 64 in the gap 63 according to a bottom-up sequence. The dielectric layer is used for electrically isolating the metal layers 61 a˜61 c, the contact layer 62 a˜62 c and the metal layers 61 d˜61 f, the contact layers 62 d˜62 f. An active region 65 a formed underneath the first seal ring 71 c adjacent to the gap 71 a and an active region 65 b formed underneath the second seal ring 71 d adjacent to the gap 71 a are isolated by the N type doping layer 63. The N type doping layer 63 can be a N well or a N-epi. The isolation layer 64 can be a shallow trench isolation (STI) layer or a field oxide layer.

It can be understood from FIG. 6 that the seal ring 71 of the invention at least includes the first P well 58 a, the second P well 58 b, the N type doping layer 63, the first P+ doping layer 59 a, the second P+ doping layer 59 b, the isolation layer 64, the contact layers 62 a˜62 b and the dielectric layer 60 a. The first P well 58 a is formed on the silicon substrate 57. The second P well 58 b is formed near the first P well 58 a. The N type doping layer 63 is formed between the first P well 58 a and the second P well 58 b, so that the first P well 58 a and the second P well 58 b are electrically isolated by the N type doping layer 63. The first P+ doping layer 59 a is formed on the first P well 58 a. The second P+ doping layer 59 b is formed on the second P well 58 b. The isolation layer 64 is formed between the first P+ doping layer 59 a and the second P+ doping layer 59 b, so that the first P+ doping layer 59 a and the second P+ doping layer 59 b are electrically isolated by the isolation layer 64. The metal layer 61 a is directly or indirectly formed on the first P+ doping layer 59 a and is electrically connected with the first P+ doping layer 59 a. The metal layer 61 d is directly or indirectly formed on the second P+ doping layer 59 b and is electrically connected with the second P+ doping layer 59 b. The dielectric layer 60 a is formed between the metal layers 61 a and 61 d, so that the metal layers 61 a and 61 d are electrically isolated by the dielectric layer 60 a.

Refer to FIG. 6. Since the N type doping layer 63 underneath the gap 71 a is formed between the first P well 58 a and the second P well 58 b, a first PN junction are formed between the N type doping layer 63 and the first P well 58 a at the interface of the first seal ring 71 c and the gap 71 a. A second PN junction is formed between the N type doping layer 63 and the second P well 58 b at the interface of the second seal ring 71 d and the gap 71 a. The first PN junction and the second PN junction are linked and are inverse. Consequently, the noise cannot be transmitted from the first seal ring 71 c formed at one side of the gap 71 a to the second seal ring 71 d formed at opposite side of the gap 71 a through the N type doping layer 63, effectively preventing the noise generated by the digital circuit 73 from being transmitted to the RF circuit 74 through the seal ring 71. Besides, the electric charges generated during the process of manufacturing seal ring 71 according to the plasma etching method can be transmitted to the silicon substrate 57 through the first P+ doping layer 59 a and the first P well 58 a and through the second P+ doping layer 59 b and the second P well 58 b, lest the electric charges might build up on the seal ring 71 and affect the electrical characteristics of the integrated circuit chip 70.

Referring to FIG. 8A, a partial enlargement of a cross-sectional view of the integrated circuit chip along the cross-sectional line 8A-8A′ in FIG. 4 is shown. Refer to FIG. 5A and FIG. 6 at the same time. In FIG. 8A, the first ground ring 72 a is formed between the silicon substrate 57 and the I/O pad 73 a. The guard ring 55 surrounds the I/O pad 73 a. The guard ring 55 includes the metal layer 61 a and the first P+ doping layer 59 a. The metal layer 61 a is electrically connected with the first P+ doping layer 59 a.

Referring to FIG. 8B, a partial enlargement of a cross-sectional view of the integrated circuit chip along the cross-sectional line 8B-8B′ in FIG. 4 is shown. Refer to FIG. 5B and FIG. 6 at the same time. In FIG. 8B, the second ground ring 72 b is formed between the silicon substrate 57 and the I/O pad 74 a. The guard ring 56 surrounds the I/O pad 74 a. The guard ring 56 includes the metal layer 61 d and the second P+ doping layer 59 b. The metal layer 61 d is electrically connected with the second P+ doping layer 59 b.

Since capacity effect exists between the I/O pad 73 a and the first P well 58 a formed underneath the I/O pad 73 a, when the I/O pad 73 a receives the noise, the noise will be coupled with the first P well 58 a formed underneath the I/O pad 73 a first, then transmitted to the first seal ring 71 c and the first ground ring 72 a through the guard ring 55 formed around the I/O pad 73 a. Since capacity effect also exists between the I/O pad 74 a and the second P well 58 b formed underneath I/O pad 74 a, when the I/O pad 74 a receive noise, the noise will be coupled with the second P well 58 b formed underneath the I/O pad 74 a first, then transmitted to the second seal ring 71 d and the second ground ring 72 b through the guard ring 56 formed around the I/O pad 74 a. Thus, the noise received by the I/O pads 73 a and 74 a will be effectively excluded. Besides, the noise transmitted from the external of the guard ring 55 can also be transmitted to the first seal ring 71 c and the first ground ring 72 a through the guard ring 55, lest the I/O pad 73 a might be interfered with. The noise transmitted from the external of the guard ring 56 can also be transmitted to the second seal ring 71 d and the second ground ring 72 b through the guard ring 56, lest the I/O pad 74 a might be interfered with. Thus, the guard rings 55 and 56 can promptly transmit the noise generated from around the guard rings 55 and 56 to the ground end, preventing the I/O pads 73 a and 74 a from being interfered with. As for the two adjacent I/O pads, the guard rings formed nearby further prevent the two adjacent I/O pads from generating erroneous signal feedback path.

Referring to FIG. 9, a partial enlargement of a top view of the integrated circuit chip in FIG. 4 is shown. In FIG. 9, an integrated circuit chip 70 further includes a power ring 90. The power ring 90 and the first ground ring 72 a are partly formed underneath the I/O pad 73 a. Each of the power ring 90 and the first ground ring 72 a roughly correspond to a half of the bottom surface of the I/O pad 73 a. Apart from the conventional function of serving as the grounding and power of a circuit, the power ring 90 and the first ground ring 72 a, which look like two metal rings, can serve as a shielding between the I/O pad 73 a and the first P well 58 a in FIG. 8, blocking mutual noise interference. Similarly, another power ring and the second ground ring 72 b are formed underneath the I/O pad 74 a, serving as a shielding between the I/O pad 74 a and the second P well 58 b to block mutual noise interference.

The integrated circuit chip disclosed in the above preferred embodiment according to the invention reduces noise coupling, prevents electric charges, and improves the electrical characteristics of the integrated circuit chip by means of a design of mutual electrical connection between the seal ring, the ground ring and the guard ring.

While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements and procedures, and the scope of the appended claims therefore should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements and procedures. 

1. An integrated circuit chip comprising: a silicon substrate; at least a circuit, which is formed on the silicon substrate and has at least an input/output (I/O) pad; a seal ring, which is formed on the silicon substrate and surrounds the circuit and the I/O pad; a ground ring, which is formed between the silicon substrate and the I/O pad and is electrically connected with the seal ring; and at least a guard ring, which is formed on the silicon substrate and surrounds the I/O pad, wherein the guard ring is electrically connecting with the seal ring.
 2. The integrated circuit chip according to claim 1, wherein the guard ring includes a P+ doping layer and a metal layer, wherein the P+ doping layer is electrically connected to the metal layer.
 3. The integrated circuit chip according to claim 1, wherein the circuit is a digital circuit, an analog circuit or a radio frequency (RF) circuit.
 4. A seal ring, which extends along the peripheral of a silicon substrate, the seal ring comprising: a P well, which is formed on the silicon substrate and has a first aperture; an N type doping layer, which is formed in the first aperture and is formed on the silicon substrate; a P+ doping layer, which is formed on the P well and has a second aperture corresponding to the N type doping layer; an isolation layer, which is formed in the second aperture and is formed on the N type doping layer; a plurality of dielectric layers, which is formed on the P+ doping layer; and a plurality of metal layers, each of which is formed on the corresponding dielectric layer and is electrically connected with the P+ doping layer, wherein the metal layers have a gap exposing part of the isolation layer.
 5. The seal ring according to claim 4, further comprising: a plurality of contact layers, each of which is formed on the corresponding dielectric layer, wherein one of the contact layers is electrically connected with the P+ doping layer and the metal layer adjacent to the P+ doping layer, wherein each of the remaining contact layers are electrically connected with the two adjacent metal layers.
 6. The seal ring according to claim 5, wherein the contact layers are a plurality of vias or plugs.
 7. The seal ring according to claim 4, wherein the size of the second aperture is larger than or equal to the area of the surface of the N type doping layer.
 8. The seal ring according to claim 4, wherein the surface of the N type doping layer is co-planar with the surface of the P well.
 9. The seal ring according to claim 4, wherein the surface of the isolation layer is co-planar with the surface of the P+ doping layer.
 10. The seal ring according to claim 4, wherein the N type doping layer is an N well layer or an N-epi layer.
 11. The seal ring according to claim 4, wherein the isolation layer is a shallow trench isolation (STI) layer or a field oxide layer.
 12. An integrated circuit chip comprising: a silicon substrate; a first seal ring, which extends along the peripheral of the silicon substrate; a first guard ring, which is formed near the first seal ring and is electrically connected with the first seal ring, wherein the first guard ring is substantially a U-shaped structure, wherein a first enclosed region is enclosed by the first guarding ring and part of the first seal ring; and a first I/O pad formed inside the first enclosed region.
 13. The integrated circuit chip according to claim 12, wherein the first guard ring has a first end, which extends to the peripheral of the silicon substrate and is electrically connected with the seal ring.
 14. The integrated circuit chip according to claim 12, further comprising: a second seal ring, which extends along the peripheral of the silicon substrate and is electrically isolated from the first seal ring; a second guard ring, which is formed near the second seal ring and is electrically connected with the second seal ring, wherein the second guard ring is substantially a U-shaped structure, wherein a second enclosed region is enclosed by the second guarding ring and part of the second seal ring; and a second I/O pad formed inside the second enclosed region.
 15. The integrated circuit chip according to claim 14, wherein the first I/O pad is electrically connected with an RF circuit and the second I/O pad is electrically connected with a digital circuit.
 16. A seal ring, which extends along the peripheral of a silicon substrate, the seal ring comprising: a first P well, which is formed on the silicon substrate; a second P well, which is formed near the first P well; a N type doping layer, which is formed between the first P well and the second P well to electrically isolate the first P well and the second P well; a first P+ doping layer, which is formed on the first P well; a second P+ doping layer, which is formed on the second P well; an isolation layer, which is formed between the first P+ doping layer and the second P+ doping layer to electrically isolate the first P+ doping layer and the second P+ doping layer; a first metal layer, which is directly or indirectly formed on the first P+ doping layer and is electrically connected with the first P+ doping layer; a second metal layer, which is directly or indirectly formed on the second P+ doping layer and is electrically connected with the second P+ doping layer; and a dielectric layer, which is formed between the first metal layer and the second metal layer to electrically isolated the first metal layer and the second metal layer electrically.
 17. The seal ring according to claim 16, further comprising: a first dielectric layer and a first contact layer, both of which are formed between the first metal layer and the first P+ doping layer, wherein the first metal layer is electrically connected with the first P+ doping layer through the first contact layer; and a second dielectric layer and a second contact layer, both of which are formed between the second metal layer and the second P+ doping layer, wherein the second metal layer is electrically connected with the second P+ doping layer through the second contact layer.
 18. The seal ring according to claim 17, wherein the first contact layer is a plug or a via.
 19. The seal ring according to claim 17, wherein the second contact layer is a plug or a via.
 20. The seal ring according to claim 16, wherein the isolation layer is an STI layer or a field oxide layer. 